Da Vinci

I have chosen to study Leonardo Da Vinci, for he is a true genius of the Renaissance period. Da Vinci's talents were so wide span I would only be able to mention a few throughout my research paper. Most people think of Leonardo Da Vinci as just a brilliant artist of the 15th century. He indeed was just such, as well as much more. Da Vinci's work was a benchmark in the development of human anatomy and many other fields of study I would like to touch on below. Da Vinci holds a place in history as one of the most ingenious men to every walk the earth. Da Vinci's expertise in the fields of art, science, and humanity make him unique to the subjects. Leonardo is known through out history as a master painter, sculptor, architect, musician, engineer, and scientist.

Da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 as an illegitimate child to peasant girl Catherina and Ser Pieor Da Vinci in Florence Italy where Ser Pieor worked as a public notary. The first four years of his life he lived with his mother in the small village of Vinci, directly outside of the great center of the Renaissance, Florence. Catherina was a poor, but thought to possess the great artistic ability that generated Leonardo's talents.

As Leonardo's potential in the arts began to emerge his father decided he would be taken to Florence, Italy to be educated. Da Vinci's talents were noticed quickly and he became to be known as the "Renaissance child". It was noted, as a young boy Leonardo was handsome, strong and quiet charming. A strong sense of observation made it easy for him to detach from the world around him. Subjects such as botany and geology held Da Vinci interests early on.

Around 1469 (age 17) Leonardo's first job was an apprentice to Andrea del Verrocchio, who was know as one of the superior painters and sculptors of his day. Leonardo learned to paint altarpieces, and sculpt using bronze and marble. In 1472 he was accepted in the painter's guild of Florence. Leonardo usually aided Verrocchio by painting the backgrounds and bases in his paintings. Da Vinci's portion of the painting consisted of soft shadings, with shadows around the edges. These areas were notable against the sharply defined figures and objects of Verrocchio, which reflect the style known as Early Renaissance. In 1478 Leonardo reached the title of an Independent Master. Leonard's first large painting, The Adoration of the Magi (begun in 1481), was left uncompleted.

Da Vinci's next great quest began as an engineer. In 1481 he wrote to the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. Leonardo went on to explain he was capable of building armor vehicles, cannons, bridges, and other war machines, which would prove to be essential for military use. Da Vinci was accepted into the service and began work on Ludovico's castle where he later became a great military engineer. Da Vinci was obsessed with horses and loved to depict them in his artwork. He constructed a monument in honor of the Duke's father mounted up on a leaping horse. The monument was grand in scale, and was left unfinished only to be used for target practiced by French archers in the year 1500.

Da Vinci spent 18 years in Milan where he later on resumed his love for painting. Some felt the most important painting created in the early Milan age was The Virgin of the Rocks. Leonardo worked extensively on this piece for a lengthy period of time, seemingly with no desire to finish what he had started. This painting is one of his first that exists in complete form. In 1497 Leonardo began his masterpiece, The Last Supper. This was a mural in the dining hall of the Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan. While constructing this piece Leonardo strayed from the conventional fresco method (form of mural) associated with wall murals. He invented a method known as plastering. This compound was spread evenly along the wall and was intended to protect the paint, as well as hold it in place. The plaster technique failed, and for that the Last Supper still exists, but in poor condition.

While in Milan Leonardo began to construct scientific drawings, of which many are unaccounted for today. Da Vinci's drawings were thought to be the first to depict the accurate representations of human anatomy. Leonardo dissected human corpses and animals to clarify the distinction between bones and tendons and the way the functioned in the body. His use of the cross section made him one of the first scientists to use this method for diagramming the human body. In December of 1499 Da Vinci left Milan due to instability in the region caused by invading French forces. Due to the fame he acquired for his work while in Milan, he returned to Florence where the people welcomed him. Da Vinci's work while in Milan influenced other great artist such as Sandro Botticelli